Business Operations Strategy Associate Jobs in Park Ridge, IL

Kepler executes engineered marketing, where every message and ad delivered helps create a more personalized and productive relationship between brands and their consumers. We do this by acting as clients' agency of record, as their in-house team, or some hybrid of the two - and by harnessing data and technology across all paid digital media and data-driven CRM channels.

Kepler prides itself on being a great place to work. In fact, we're proud to share that AdAge recognized Kepler among the Best Place to Work in 2022, validating our investment in our team and our clients.

• We're transparent with our employees. You'll hear updates on company financials, how we're performing against bonus goals, and how we're responding to challenges we face. 
• We're growing. For you, that means unparalleled growth opportunities and a role in shaping the direction of the company. 
• We're fun. You'll work with and learn from the smartest people in the industry and have a blast doing it. 
  

THE ROLE

The Associate Director, Strategy & Activation position will serve as a senior leader across key client relationships, driving integrated media strategy, cross-channel planning, and performance marketing excellence. In this role, you'll be responsible for deeply understanding clients' business objectives and translating them into holistic media strategies that drive measurable business impact. You'll act as a trusted strategic advisor to clients while partnering closely with internal teams to lead best-in-class execution across channels.

You'll succeed as an Associate Director, Strategy & Activation if you are a strong strategic thinker with deep hands-on activation experience, exceptional client leadership skills, and a strong understanding of today's evolving digital media landscape across Search, Social, Programmatic, and other performance channels.

What You Will Do: 

• Serve as a senior strategic lead across digital performance channels including Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, Online Video, and emerging digital platforms
• Lead integrated cross-channel media strategy and planning initiatives aligned to client business goals, KPIs, audience strategies, and competitive insights
• Act as a point of contact for assigned clients; build trusted client relationships, proactively guide strategic discussions, and confidently navigate complex business challenges
• Provide strategic oversight across campaign planning, activation, optimization, budget allocation, and measurement to drive strong business outcomes
• Translate campaign performance data and market insights into actionable recommendations, strategic narratives, and executive-level presentations for clients and internal stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for innovation, testing, audience expansion, and channel growth across client programs
• Manage a team of 5-10 Managers, Senior Analysts, and Analysts by providing strategic guidance, coaching, and development support
• Drive operational excellence and contribute to process improvements, workflow efficiencies, and broader team initiatives
• Support senior leadership in growing client relationships through strategic thinking, proactive recommendations, and identification of incremental opportunities
  

Desired Skills and Experience:

•  5-8+ years of experience in digital media strategy, cross-channel planning, activation, and performance marketing
• Strong hands-on activation experience across Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic/Display, and digital media buying platforms
• Demonstrated experience developing integrated media strategies across multiple performance marketing channels
• Strong understanding of performance KPIs, attribution methodologies, audience targeting, measurement frameworks, and optimization strategies
• Deep familiarity with platforms such as Google Ads, SA360, Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads, DV360, The Trade Desk, or similar media technologies preferred
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large datasets and translate findings into strategic recommendations and business impact
• Ability to think strategically while also maintaining a strong operational and executional understanding of digital media campaigns
• Proven ability to build credibility with clients and confidently lead strategic conversations with senior stakeholders
• Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities with experience guiding and developing junior team members
• Excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and team-oriented culture

Transparency is fundamental to Kepler's culture. Our compensation strategy is designed to attract, reward, and retain the talented employees that drive Kepler's growth and success. We aim to offer competitive direct compensation and a rich indirect compensation program that demonstrates the value we place on our employees and their wellbeing.

Total Compensation:        

• Base Salary: $117,000 - $130,000
• Target Annualized Discretionary Bonus: 5% ($5,850 - $6,500)
• Target Total Cash: $122,850 - $136,500

Benefits:

• Healthcare/Dental/Vision
• Unlimited PTO
• 401k Contributions
• $75/mo Wellness Stipend
• $100/mo Mobile Phone Stipend
• $50/mo Internet Stipend
• $500/yr Annual Learning Stipend
• $2,000/yr Annual Tuition Stipend
• One-time $200 New Hire Home Office Equipment Stipend
• Parental Leave - 16 week primary caregiver / 6 week secondary caregiver leave
• Annual Work From Anywhere 4 weeks per year

Kepler is a people first organization. If this role piques your interest but you may not check every box, we still encourage you to apply! Studies show that imposter syndrome can prevent women and people of color from applying unless they meet every single qualification. We welcome all who are interested to apply, you just might be a great candidate for this role or others. 

Protect yourself from recruitment fraud. The only way to apply for a position at Kepler is by submitting a direct application via the Keplergrp.com website or working with a recruiter employed by Kepler with a @keplergrp.com email address. Learn how to stay safe by clicking here